
2. A ______________________________connects all the computers in a computer lab.
3. Some people use the calendar in their phone to _________________their appointments.
4. Some people prefer a striped________________________ on their walls; others prefer
plain walls instead.
5. You can____________________ your computer with the Internet using a cable, or you can
connect wirelessly
Predicting. Scan the reading passage quickly. Underline five sentences with will.
What do you think the passage is about?
a. schools in the future b. offices in the future c. homes in the future
How Will We Live?
A.
Picture this: You wake up in the morning. A soft light turns on in
your room. You go into the bathroom and the shower starts. The
water is the perfect temperature. After your shower, you go into
the kitchen. Your favorite breakfast is already cooked, and it’s on
the table, ready to eat. Now it’s time to go to work. It’s a rainy
day. You live alone, but you find that your umbrella and hat are
already by the door. How is all this possible? Welcome to your
future life!
Appliances That Talk
B.
Technology will allow homes in the future to be “smart.” Appliances
will communicate with each other—and with you. Your stove, for
instance, will tell you when your food is cooked and ready to eat.
Refrigerators will suggest recipes based on food items you already
have.
C.
The technology is possible because of tiny information-storing devices called RFID1 chips.
People already use them to keep track of pets and farm animals. Future RFID chips will store
information about all the items in your cabinets.2 For example, they will record the date that you
bought each item. Other devices will “read” this information using radio waves. When you need
more food, your cabinets will tell you to buy it.
Houses That Think
D.
Are you tired of the color or pattern of your walls? In a smart home, you won’t have to repaint
them. The walls will actually be digital screens, like computer or TV screens. The technology is
called OLED,3 and it’s here already. OLEDs are tiny devices that use electricity to light things.
You can find the same technology in today’s thin TV screens. OLED walls will become clear, like
windows, or display colors and patterns, like walls.
E.
A computer network will link these walls with everything else in your house. Called “ambient4
intelligence,” this computer “brain” will control your entire house. It will also adapt to your
preferences. Your house will learn about your likes and dislikes. It will then use that knowledge to
control the environment. For example, it will set the heat in the house to your favorite
temperature. It will turn on the shower at the right temperature. It will also darken the windows at
night and lighten them when it’s time to wake up.
Robots That Feel?